Development News

Olympic Solidarity concludes 2010 in Kigali (RWA)

The FINA/IOC Olympic Solidarity Development Programme concluded its 2010 activities in Kigali, Rwanda, where a Technical Course for Coaches (Beginner level) took place from December 6-16.

German expert Joshua Neuloh introduced the techniques and rules of swimming (strokes, starts and turns) as well as the fundamentals of coaching to 24 eager participants, all local. An oral examination took place at the end of the course, which all passed successfully.

Olympic Solidarity builds a legacy for swimming in Ethiopia

After the Bahamas, the FINA/IOC Olympic Solidarity Development Programme made another stop on the African continent, this time in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from November 27 to December 5, where a technical course (beginner to intermediate level) gathering 30 participants who aspire to coach swimming in their country took place.

Referees and Officials attend OWS clinic in Guatemala City (GUA)

An open water swimming clinic for Beginner-level Referees and Officials was held in the capital of Guatemala on November 11-19, 2010. 18 participants, all locals except one from Panama and two from El Salvador, attended the clinic, which was given by FINA TOWSC Member, Tomas Haces German from Cuba.

The programme comprised OWS fundamentals and practice during a 5km and 10km events, which took place during the Central America and Mexico Swimming Championships for age groups (CAMEX). There, participants occupied different arbitration positions in the same session of competitions.

An excellent clinic took place in Managua, Nicaragua, for Swimming Coaches and Judges (Advanced Level) from October 25-29. In all, 27 participants attended, among which two came from Costa Rica, two from Honduras, two from Guatemala, and one from El Salvador.

David Gerardo del Cueto Jimenez travelled from Cuba to share his knowledge about coaching and judging in swimming. Both coaches and judges showed great interest during the theory and practice sessions.

It proved to be a very encouraging clinic for the further development of swimming in the Central American region.

Olympic Solidarity carries on programme in Tbilisi (GEO)

A FINA/Olympic Solidarity Technical Course was held in Tbilisi's Aquatic Learning Complex, Georgia, for Swimming Coaches (Intermediate Level) from October 23-30, 2010.

An impressive 69 local participants attended the course to listen to expert Vladimir Issurin from the Wingate Institute in Israel. The course, which was given in Russian, concluded on a very successful note. Issurin noted in his report that "professional activity, motivation and attitude during the course were of the highest level and that the general atmosphere of the course was extremely warm and friendly."

Synchro Judges and Coaches share knowledge in Amsterdam (NED)

23 synchronised swimming coaches and judges gathered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, to attend a clinic on October 20-24 given by synchro expert Jennifer Gray from Great Britain.

13 were local participants and 10 came from eslewhere in Europe. The Level was Intermediate but many judges present had an Advanced level.

The programme included many relevant topics, such as The role of the coach, New rules for judging and effect on the coach, Organising a competition, and The role of the referee. Additionally, videos on coaching and judging age-group figures, technical and free routines, were shown and analysed with the audience.

Olympic Solidarity makes successful stop in Male (MDV)

20 aspiring Swimming Coaches (Beginner level) took part in a FINA/Olympic Solidarity Technical Course in Male, the Maldives, from October 20-31, 2010.

The course concluded on a successful note, with American expert Kimberly J. Bade reporting that "all coaches have a basic understanding of balance, drag elimination, core movement, active streamlining and coordinating core to extremities for propulsion for the four competitive strokes."

Coaches and Judges enjoy Diving clinic and Samba in Rio de Janeiro (BRA)

30 participants took part in a clinic for Diving Coaches and Judges (Intermediate - Advanced Level), held in the Parque Aquatico Julio de Lamare - Complexo, Esportivo do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from October 19-23.

Steve Foley, USA Diving High Performance Director, conducted the clinic, which comprised eight practical sessions and 11 theoretical sessions. There was no examination given at the end of the five-day course; instead coaches were tasked certain skills to teach their divers following presentations.

"All coaches were very receptive to try new things and there was a dramatic improvement by the end of the five days," said Foley.

Renowed Diving coach Igor Kopecky attracts many in Cali (COL)

A Diving Coaches clinic (Intermediate Level) was held in Cali, Colombia, from October 13-17, by renowed international coach Igor Kopecky from Diving Canada. No less than 60 participants, including coaches, officials, referees, and directors coming from other regional federations - Antioquia, Bogotà, Meta, Risaralda, Tolima and Valle - took part in the event.

The National Team Coach did not only his best in spreading valuable knowledge but also taught both instructors and coaches about the importance of teamwork while debating ways to improve the discipline at the national level, in line with FINA's development programme.

The President of the Colombian Swimming Federation, Dr. Ortiz, also made the effort to come, taking Kopecky to dinner while participants went to a salsa club, Cali being famously dubbed the "World Capital" of salsa dancing.

Judging Synchro not an easy task (JAM)

A synchronised swimming clinic for Judges was successfully held in Kingston, Jamaica, from October 5-9, 2010. 21 participants (14 local and seven coming from other Caribbean islands), from Beginner to Advanced level, benefited from the expertise of Barbara McNamee from the USA.

During the five-day clinic, the participants reviewed a great deal of judging aspects in synchronised swimming, a very complex (and complete) sport when someone considers both the artistic and technical dimensions of it. Subjects like the appreciation of a free and technical routine, the ability to analyse the relative difficulty of all aspects of a routine and the knowledge and understanding of all FINA Figures and their component part from the standpoint of perfection were, among others, discussed.